What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).

Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainville	Springfield
People
Population	17,551Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.	33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Springfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S.	$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kHighest 24% below U.S.	$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S.
	Plainville and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,144±$55Highest 19% below U.S.
	Springfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.	$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 20% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 149 in CT	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Springfield
High school in town	Plainville High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.